Govt Bill hobbles Auditor General - Nats

The Labour/Alliance Government will effectively hobble the
Auditor General's independence with the Public Audit Bill
says National MP David Carter, former chair of the Finance &
Expenditure Select Committee.

"The Public Audit Bill will
give the Government control over what the Auditor General
does.

"The Government is seeking to undermine the intent
of the Bill - to enhance the Auditor General's independence
by removing his responsibility to a Minister, as recommended
by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee in
1998.

"By sneaking in a new clause (36(4)) the Government
is giving Parliament the ability to change the Auditor
General's work programme.

"The risk is that a Government,
unhappy with the Auditor General's planned investigations,
can simply amend the work programme to push him into less
embarrassing areas," Mr Carter said.

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